Uh Oh! HoJo changes....help me plz!

[chrissiecutie]

Just booked my ENT/Retro rate at HoJo's & found out they changed how they categorize the King rooms. Typically we stay in a what was once called a standard King in building 2. The rate has ALWAYS been $59/night.

They are now calling these rooms deluxe because they have a microwave & face the pool. They are charging $79/night do that's up $20! Looked on their website & I didn't see anything that lists the NK1 as being "deluxe".

My dilemma is that we like the quiet of building 2 & location to the garden pool. I can do without the micro, so I'm not worried about that. However, I watched the YouTube vids & the deluxe queen rooms have the Dreamscape bedding. Since Ive never stayed in anything but a "deluxe" I can't compare. How are the beds in a standard king? Does the Dreamscape bedding really make a difference? Also, where in Building 1 are the King rooms located?

I'm wondering if I should just spring for the extra $20/night so we can stay where we usually do??? But I'm a little ticked that HoJo made the change & didn't state anything on their website. I had no idea until I called to book & now I'm all mixed up! Ugh! Thoughts?

 

[I'm mikey]

We stayed at hojo a couple of weeks ago in a standard king room. it was on the backside
of building 1 facing the freeway, the room was VERY quiet, we could not hear any
freeway noise when both balcony doors were closed. the bed was very comfortable.

 

[nbliss]

We stayed in a garden pool view deluxe room last year in building 2. I noticed when I booked it was $10 more this year (now $79). In my opinion it's still a great price. The beds were great (our bed at home is a Tempurpedic, so we have become bed snobby for sure when we travel), and they even had protect-a-bed mattress covers on them. Again, IMHO, it's still a terrific deal.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

The 3 of you stay in 1 K bed?? We used to get 2 Qs when they were $59 but we do not mind the 2 *oversized - almost Q sized* doubles - they're still $59!

 

[DizFan13]

DH and I just stayed in a Standard King in building one; the K rooms all face the freeway, but with the new sliding doors, it is very quiet and peaceful. The bed was comfortable, and other than the lack of microwave and the size of the bed, it was basically the same as the other rooms we have tried. If you are looking for the lower rate, you might try that. In the past, we have tried the rooms with a view, the deluxe queens, the standard queens, and the standard king. Honestly, they all seem the same except for the microwave. We will always opt for the lowest rate possible unless we feel that the microwave is necessary.

 

[chrissiecutie]

DH and I just stayed in a Standard King in building one; the K rooms all face the freeway, but with the new sliding doors, it is very quiet and peaceful. The bed was comfortable, and other than the lack of microwave and the size of the bed, it was basically the same as the other rooms we have tried. If you are looking for the lower rate, you might try that. In the past, we have tried the rooms with a view, the deluxe queens, the standard queens, and the standard king. Honestly, they all seem the same except for the microwave. We will always opt for the lowest rate possible unless we feel that the microwave is necessary.

Thanks All! This helps!

Yes, we do sometimes all squish in a King or if family is traveling with us DS stays with Gramie & Grampie. DH is very tall & a pretty big guy at 6'3 & 300lbs & there's just no way he can fit comfortably in a double sized bed. And since the double queen is considered "deluxe" we would still have to pay a little more & DH would still be uncomfortable. Since DH is not a big Disney fan, having a comfy bed for him is priority #1. He can be a real BEAR if he's at DL & not well rested.....

I agree that all the rooms with the ENT/Retro rate are an excellent deal! But if there's really no difference between a standard King & a deluxe King ten I would rather save that $20/night for other things.

However, I do feel that it's an oversight on HoJo's part to not state this change on their website. It was a bit of a shock to find out that our normal room choice had gone up in price. But I will say that they appear to have made changes to their cancellation policy again. I was told that as long as I cancel 30 days prior to arrival date then there is NO charge. This contradicts the policy listed in their website. Can anyone confirm this? I think I might call them again to make sure....

 

[DizFan13]

When it comes to HoJo, my advice is to always call during business hours M-F and talk to in-house reservations. They are usually quite helpful and you will get a straight answer regarding policies that will actually impact your visit. The website is good for looking at pictures, but not so great as far as providing useful information, imho.

 

[chrissiecutie]

When it comes to HoJo, my advice is to always call during business hours M-F and talk to in-house reservations. They are usually quite helpful and you will get a straight answer regarding policies that will actually impact your visit. The website is good for looking at pictures, but not so great as far as providing useful information, imho.

I was actually thinking the same thing! Best to err on the side of caution & just call.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thanks All! This helps!
I agree that all the rooms with the ENT/Retro rate are an excellent deal! But if there's really no difference between a standard King & a deluxe King ten I would rather save that $20/night for other things.

As you mentioned, there are small differences, but it's, of course, a matter of choosing what you are willing to pay for. You said you don't need a microwave, and the soundproofing that has been added in the last year may be adequate enough for your preference for quiet that you don't need building 2. We've stayed in both building 2 and a freeway side kid suite in building 1. I think if you get the right room in building 2 it can still be quieter there, but the post-soundproofing kid suite is a huge improvement over the pre-soundproofed one. I would check directly with in-house though about the state of the bedding. I'm pretty sure all the beds and bedcovers were replaced in building 2 in the last few years. I don't know the status of bed and bedding replacement for building 1, so if that's important to you, you should ask.

However, I do feel that it's an oversight on HoJo's part to not state this change on their website. It was a bit of a shock to find out that our normal room choice had gone up in price. But I will say that they appear to have made changes to their cancellation policy again. I was told that as long as I cancel 30 days prior to arrival date then there is NO charge. This contradicts the policy listed in their website. Can anyone confirm this? I think I might call them again to make sure....

I agree that it would be helpful for them to make the distinction about different types of king rooms and their prices on the retro rate page. All the Hojo room rates have been going up over the last few years. I agree that it was tough to start paying more for the "same" thing I had been paying less for, but I always just pick my dates and shop around and see if I can find something that meets our family's particular requirements and preferences for a comparable price. You'll find that a lot of the other hotel prices are going up too. We occasionally stay elsewhere, but we come back to Hojo a lot.

As for the cancellation policy, it seems to be more lenient if you call directly and book with in-house. That 30 day policy is also what I have been told when booking. I don't believe the 30 day policy is in effect though were you to book online, so it's best for you to call and book with in-house.

Finally, are you sure you are allowed to stay in a standard king with 2 adults and 1 child? The only reason I ask is because this is a current topic over on another message board right now. The poster there said they were told 2 people only in that room type due to fire code. No Hojo employee has added any comments to that thread, so I think it may still be under discussion among the participants. You probably should confirm though that this is allowed before you change your reservation.

 

[chrissiecutie]

As you mentioned, there are small differences, but it's, of course, a matter of choosing what you are willing to pay for. You said you don't need a microwave, and the soundproofing that has been added in the last year may be adequate enough for your preference for quiet that you don't need building 2. We've stayed in both building 2 and a freeway side kid suite in building 1. I think if you get the right room in building 2 it can still be quieter there, but the post-soundproofing kid suite is a huge improvement over the pre-soundproofed one. I would check directly with in-house though about the state of the bedding. I'm pretty sure all the beds and bedcovers were replaced in building 2 in the last few years. I don't know the status of bed and bedding replacement for building 1, so if that's important to you, you should ask.



I agree that it would be helpful for them to make the distinction about different types of king rooms and their prices on the retro rate page. All the Hojo room rates have been going up over the last few years. I agree that it was tough to start paying more for the "same" thing I had been paying less for, but I always just pick my dates and shop around and see if I can find something that meets our family's particular requirements and preferences for a comparable price. You'll find that a lot of the other hotel prices are going up too. We occasionally stay elsewhere, but we come back to Hojo a lot.

As for the cancellation policy, it seems to be more lenient if you call directly and book with in-house. That 30 day policy is also what I have been told when booking. I don't believe the 30 day policy is in effect though were you to book online, so it's best for you to call and book with in-house.

Finally, are you sure you are allowed to stay in a standard king with 2 adults and 1 child? The only reason I ask is because this is a current topic over on another message board right now. The poster there said they were told 2 people only in that room type due to fire code. No Hojo employee has added any comments to that thread, so I think it may still be under discussion among the participants. You probably should confirm though that this is allowed before you change your reservation.

No...you are NOT allowed to have more then 2 people in a King room due to fire code. We've only squished DS into a King room once (our 1st trip) and honestly, it's not much of a "squish". We had more then enough room. While I don't advocate going against the rules, we 100% did this and I totally admit to it.

The last 2 visits have been with family & my parents usually end up getting the double queen while DH & I get a King ALL TO OURSELVES. Ah...heaven! This is the plan again for our upcoming visit.

Now that we know about the fire code rules, DH & I had discussed getting a double queen, when we thought they were still $59/night. DH would get one bed and DS and I would share the other. Which would be a good option for when DS doesn't share a room with his grandparents. However now that the double doubles & the standard Kings are the only options at the $59 rate, this does make things difficult as DH can NOT fit in a double sized bed. Seriously, I think he's cut off at the knees!

I had looked into a King suite so DS could sleep on the sofa bed but they never seem to be available & I can NOT find a price on those suites anywhere. It seems our only option when sharing a room with DS is paying extra for a double queen deluxe or possibly getting a suite. But I really would like to know the prices on those suites...I know I can save an extra 15% with my ET card. But beyond that, I have no clue. Since we only have one child, it just seems silly to have a really large room/suite when it's just not needed OR in the budget. KWIM?

For this visit...I just need to decide where DH & I will be most comfortable. Seems that with the added soundproofing the standard Kings in bldg 1 aren't too bad. But do they have the new bedding? Perhaps I should call the hotel directly as another poster suggested.

As far as rate shopping goes...well...We always stay at the HoJo. DH hates new places! Ugh....he really can be a pain sometimes! And DS has grown up going here and seriously thinks the HoJo is the ONLY hotel at DL. So if we don't stay here his world will topple. Plus, no matter which room you get- I feel that it's a great deal.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

No...you are NOT allowed to have more then 2 people in a King room due to fire code. We've only squished DS into a King room once (our 1st trip) and honestly, it's not much of a "squish". We had more then enough room. While I don't advocate going against the rules, we 100% did this and I totally admit to it.

The last 2 visits have been with family & my parents usually end up getting the double queen while DH & I get a King ALL TO OURSELVES. Ah...heaven! This is the plan again for our upcoming visit.

Now that we know about the fire code rules, DH & I had discussed getting a double queen, when we thought they were still $59/night. DH would get one bed and DS and I would share the other. Which would be a good option for when DS doesn't share a room with his grandparents. However now that the double doubles & the standard Kings are the only options at the $59 rate, this does make things difficult as DH can NOT fit in a double sized bed. Seriously, I think he's cut off at the knees!

I had looked into a King suite so DS could sleep on the sofa bed but they never seem to be available & I can NOT find a price on those suites anywhere. It seems our only option when sharing a room with DS is paying extra for a double queen deluxe or possibly getting a suite. But I really would like to know the prices on those suites...I know I can save an extra 15% with my ET card. But beyond that, I have no clue. Since we only have one child, it just seems silly to have a really large room/suite when it's just not needed OR in the budget. KWIM?

For this visit...I just need to decide where DH & I will be most comfortable. Seems that with the added soundproofing the standard Kings in bldg 1 aren't too bad. But do they have the new bedding? Perhaps I should call the hotel directly as another poster suggested.

As far as rate shopping goes...well...We always stay at the HoJo. DH hates new places! Ugh....he really can be a pain sometimes! And DS has grown up going here and seriously thinks the HoJo is the ONLY hotel at DL. So if we don't stay here his world will topple. Plus, no matter which room you get- I feel that it's a great deal.

Those double queen rooms have been more than $59 per night for quite a while now, at least the ones in building 2. I remember paying $69 per night when the first price jump occurred, and I think I may have gotten that room once at the $79. And I agree that it's a great deal. I have also paid non-entertainment rates but gotten the 20% AP discount on a room occasionally, because like you said Hojo is our favorite; it is rare for us to stay elsewhere these days.

OK. I was pretty sure the limit was 2 people in a king room.

I think it's hard to find info about that king suite because there are only 1 or 2 at the hotel. I have a feeling it books quite far in advance, and I can see how there wouldn't be much of a discount with it being unique and in-demand.

 

[papamouse1]

I think you are right on track chrissiecutie...

Call the hotel and verify the bedding question. If it's different, spend the $20 and keep DH comfy so he will be a teddy bear, not a grizzly bear

Also, shopping around for a different place sounds risky. To find a place as nice as hojo's for $59 night? Not sure that is going to happen. We have taken a few chances over the years with discount hotels in the area that had beautiful online pictures, only to arrive and find even the roaches couldn't handle it.. they were dead all over the room

 

[chrissiecutie]

Those double queen rooms have been more than $59 per night for quite a while now, at least the ones in building 2. I remember paying $69 per night when the first price jump occurred, and I think I may have gotten that room once at the $79. And I agree that it's a great deal. I have also paid non-entertainment rates but gotten the 20% AP discount on a room occasionally, because like you said Hojo is our favorite; it is rare for us to stay elsewhere these days.

OK. I was pretty sure the limit was 2 people in a king room.

I think it's hard to find info about that king suite because there are only 1 or 2 at the hotel. I have a feeling it books quite far in advance, and I can see how there wouldn't be much of a discount with it being unique and in-demand.

Well...since we've only ever stayed in the King, I had no idea that the price had slowly been increasing. We were just there a little over a year ago and the King in bldg 2 was still being called "standard" and we got it for $59/night. So that's why I'm so surprised that in 15 months time frame, the rate has increased for the same room by $20/night. My parents always booked separtely at the ET rate but they never mentioned a price increase last time we were all there.

Are there any standard double queens anywhere on property or are they all considered deluxe now? Since we almost always travel with family, we like to all stay in the same building and try and be close to one another. Building 2 has always worked well for us & we like not being in the middle buildings that don't have elevators- but from what I understand those middle buildings are 100% double doubles.

Does this sound right?
Bldg 1 - standard King & standard double queens (do these exist still??)
Bldg 2 - deluxe Kings & deluxe double queens
Middle bldgs 4, 5, 6?- standard double doubles

So where are the suites?

Ugh...I think I need to call the HoJo....

 

[chrissiecutie]

I think you are right on track chrissiecutie...

Call the hotel and verify the bedding question. If it's different, spend the $20 and keep DH comfy so he will be a teddy bear, not a grizzly bear

Also, shopping around for a different place sounds risky. To find a place as nice as hobo's for $59 night? Not sure that is going to happen. We have taken a few chances over the years with discount hotels in the area that had beautiful online pictures, only to arrive and find even the roaches couldn't handle it.. they were dead all over the room

Thanks PapaMouse!

I definately want a Teddy Bear and NOT a grumpy BEAR...and trust me, if DH isn't happy, no one is happy.

We are pretty commited to the HoJo's....not matter the price. But since we are always on a tight budget, the $59/night just makes it SO much better.

I just got off the phone with CS at the HoJo & they said that ALL the rooms have the Dreamscape bedding & pillowtop mattress'. However the CS didn't sound so sure...like she was making a guess & hoping it was right? Maybe I'm just reading too much into that...

So it seems that the real difference comes down to noise level, which other posters have said don't seem to bad & the lack of microwave. Personally, a microwave isn't worth an extra $20/night & I don't mind facing the freeway, just as long as the noise level isn't too horrendous. For us, the bed is what matters...well, for DH really.

So I'm leaning towards keeping my original reservation with the standard King. However, now I'm concerned where my parents & DS will end up?? What other room sizes are in building 1? Shoot! I should have asked that question when I was just on the phone with the HoJo!

 

[DizFan13]

We actually prefer building one, and standard queen rooms are available.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Does this sound right?
Bldg 1 - standard King & standard double queens (do these exist still??)
Bldg 2 - deluxe Kings & deluxe double queens
Middle bldgs 4, 5, 6?- standard double doubles

So where are the suites?

Ugh...I think I need to call the HoJo....

Standard double queens are freeway side of building 1. I believe the ET rate went up to $69 on those. Then they bumped up the deluxe queens to $79, and those are in building 2 as you know. Premium queens are the Disney "view" side of building one, and they are now $89 when the ET rate is available. Kid suites are the freeway side of building 1, and I think they may have converted some of their standard rooms to make those. As far as I know, all the double doubles are in the short buildings, 3-6, and still have the $59 rate when available. We have never stayed in one of those rooms. It does make sense that they've gone to a graduated pricing tier based on location and amenities of the rooms. Those double queen rooms in building 2 were a steal at $59 per night; ah, those were the days. We've never been in any suite but the kid suite, but I think the king suite might be in building 2. Since you're bargain hunting though, I'd guess that would be beyond your comfort zone as far as price goes.

 

[Hojoanaheim]

Hi Chrissiecutie! Here is a breakdown of the room types that we have:

Building 1
SNK2-Kids suite: King bed/Bunk bed/Twin sofa sleeper/2 bathrooms/fridge and microwave/facing the highway
SNK1- King suite: King bed/pullout sofa sleeper /facing Disneyland on the 7TH floor with a microwave and fridge.
NQQ1- Premium/Superior room: 2 queen beds facing Disneyland/ balcony/microwave and fridge.
NQ3-Standard Queen room: 2 queen beds facing the highway /microwave and fridge.
NK1- Standard King room: 1 king bed, facing the highway/fridge

Building 3/4/5/6
NDD1- Standard Double rooms: 2 double beds facing the courtyard, located in our 2-story buildings

Building 2
SNQ2- Queen suite: 2 queen beds/ pullout sofa sleeper/facing the Garden pool on the 4th floor/microwave and fridge.
NQQ2- Deluxe Queen room: 2 queen beds/ facing Garden pool/microwave and fridge
NK2 –Deluxe King:1 king bed facing the Garden pool/microwave and fridge

Hope this helps!
Kriss

 

[nbliss]

Standard Double Queens do exist, and they are in building 1. Those are $69 a night. I don't know the difference, everything on their website lists as the same. Obviously location, the deluxe double is in building 2. We chose building 2 over building 1 due to the noise we experienced in building 1 years ago, but apparently that is much better now. I would suggest you go with the standard double queen.

 

[dopeyfanatic]

I would get the queens so you can be next to your parents. My husband is nearly 6'4" and while a king is easier for him to fit on, it's only his feet that hang off. It's not that horrible. He can have his own bed.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Just for future reference, a queen bed is actually the same length as a king bed--(they are both 80 inches long) the king is just more wide:

Mattress Sizes
•Twin--39 x 75 inches (or 99 x 190 cm)
•X-Long Twin--39 x 80 inches (99 x 203 cm)
•Full--54 x 75 inches (137 x 190 cm)
•Queen--60 x 80 inches (or 153 x 203 cm)
•King--76 x 80 inches (or 198 x 203 cm)
•California King--72 x 84 inches (or 182 x 213 cm)


As far as the pricing, Hojos is such a great deal no matter how you slice it. I don't know if you have stayed in the other options on Harbor (because I have, and there is no comparison!) but 79.00 per night for a room facing the pool is still an amazing deal. I would pay for the extra money in a heartbeat and save money else where.

I personally like to stay at one of the DLR hotels when I go, but when we can't afford that (and that is often!) we would rather stay at Hojos. When we stay there, we always pick a premium or deluxe room--it makes everything better for us.